[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 7 (Monday, January 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1880-1881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-689]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-97-3290]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1993-1997 Volkswagen Jetta Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1993-1997 Volkswagen Jetta passenger cars are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1993-
1997 Volkswagen Jetta passenger cars that were not originally 
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards are eligible for importation into the United States because 
(1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally 
manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and 
that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety 
standards, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered to conform 
to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is February 11, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice 
number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 
Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 10 am to 
5 pm]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that was not 
originally manufactured to conform to all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards shall be refused admission into the United 
States unless NHTSA

[[Page 1881]]

has decided that the motor vehicle is substantially similar to a motor 
vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the 
United States, certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and of the same 
model year as the model of the motor vehicle to be compared, and is 
capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards.
    Petitions for eligibility decisions may be submitted by either 
manufacturers or importers who have registered with NHTSA pursuant to 
49 CFR Part 592. As specified in 49 CFR 593.7, NHTSA publishes notice 
in the Federal Register of each petition that it receives, and affords 
interested persons an opportunity to comment on the petition. At the 
close of the comment period, NHTSA decides, on the basis of the 
petition and any comments that it has received, whether the vehicle is 
eligible for importation. The agency then publishes this decision in 
the Federal Register.
    G&K Automotive Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (``G&K'') 
(Registered Importer 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1993-1997 Volkswagen Jetta passenger cars are eligible for importation 
into the United States. The vehicles which G&K believes are 
substantially similar are the 1993-1997 Volkswagen Jetta passenger cars 
that were manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United 
States and certified by their manufacturer, Volkswagenwerke, A.G., as 
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
1993-1997 Volkswagen Jettas to their U.S. certified counterparts, and 
found the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that the non-U.S. certified 1993-1997 Volkswagen Jettas, as originally 
manufactured, conform to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards in 
the same manner as their U.S. certified counterparts, or are capable of 
being readily altered to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that non-U.S. certified 1993-
1997 Volkswagen Jettas are identical to their U.S. certified 
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standards Nos. 102 
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence * * *., 103 Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake 
Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 111 Rearview Mirror, 113 Hood Latch 
Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201 Occupant 
Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 204 Steering 
Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks 
and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 209 Seat Belt 
Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield 
Retention, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 
Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 
Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1993-
1997 Volkswagen Jettas comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR 
Part 581.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) substitution of a lens 
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with an ECE symbol on the brake failure 
indicator lamp; (b) installation of a seat belt warning lamp that 
displays the appropriate symbol; (c) recalibration of the speedometer/
odometer from kilometers to miles per hour.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer 
microswitch in the steering lock assembly and a warning buzzer.
    Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: rewiring of the power window 
system so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is 
switched off.
    Standard No. 203 Impact Protection for the Driver From the Steering 
Control System: the petitioner states that the requirements of this 
standard will be met when the non-U.S. certified 1993-1997 Volkswagen 
Jettas are equipped with driver's and passenger's side air bags 
identical to those found on the vehicles' U.S. certified counterparts.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) installation of a 
seat belt warning buzzer; (b) installation of driver's and passenger's 
side air bags identical to those found on the vehicles' U.S.-certified 
counterparts. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with 
Type 2 seat belts in the front and rear outboard designated seating 
positions, and with Type 1 seat belts in the rear center designated 
seating position.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number 
plate must be affixed to the vehicles to meet the requirements of 49 
CFR Part 565.
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition 
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be 
submitted to: Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 
20590. It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
    All comments received before the close of business on the closing 
date indicated above will be considered, and will be available for 
examination in the docket at the above address both before and after 
that date. To the extent possible, comments filed after the closing 
date will also be considered. Notice of final action on the petition 
will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority 
indicated below.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8; 
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: January 7, 1998.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-689 Filed 1-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P